Politics & Government

Sign Ordinance Top Priority for Ordinance Committee

The Marple Ordinance Committee met on March 9 to discuss amending and updating the township's sign ordinance.

BROOMALL–Revising and updating their sign ordinance was on the top of the list for 's Ordinance Committee.

At a meeting on Wednesday night, members of the Ordinance Committee–Arlene Romano, Jamie Mariano, Director of Code Enforcement Joe Romano, and Michael Molinaro (R-6th District), Board of Commissioner's president and liaison–discussed the town's sign ordinance as it's first ordinance to look over for the year.

"What we need to do in this ordinance is to consider how to regulate the signs and enforce the signs," said Molinaro. 

Find out what's happening in Marple Newtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Commercial business signs are in agreement with the township ordinance but the offsite commercial advertisting signs such as real estate, tree, roofing and other commercial services, along the median on major roads such as Route 3/West Chester Pike and Sproul Road which is more of the concern, said Molinaro.

West Chester Pike is a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation road, in which they have a zero sign ordinance but, according to Molinaro, the department simply doesn't have the time to take out each sign and the task is left up to the township.

Find out what's happening in Marple Newtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Molinaro said those wishing to put up an offsite commercial advertising sign will have to get a permit from the Code Enforcement Office, which will then put it up before the Board of Commissioners for approval.

However, civic organizations may see a bit more leeway with approval to post signs along West Chester Pike. The Broomall Fire Co.'s annual carnival sign was mentioned at the meeting as having gone through the process of approval correctly.

Other types of signs that were discussed were political signs and its grace period–how long signs are allowed to be posted after Election Day. Commercial signs on private property such as construction done at a homeowner's home–how long can that sign be allowed on their lawn for–were also discussed.

Romano said the construction/building permit form may be amended to read that if a sign on private property is not taken down after the construction has been completed at that home, a fine will be issued to that company.

The committee will reconvene next month to discuss the language of the sign ordinance to differentiate the usage of offsite commercial advertising signs and civic organization signs.

"What we want to do is start cleaning it up," said Molinaro about the commercial offsite signs. "Believe it or not, resident don't like the signs. It's not positive advertising and it's not a positive picture for our township."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here